Helen McLaurin

CENTRALIA, Ill. - Helen Lorine McLaurin, 77, formerly of Canalou, Mo., died Dec. 18, 2003, at St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia.

Born Feb. 21, 1926, in Canalou, daughter of the late John and Emma Saunders Chaney, she was a member of the Baptist Church in Canalou.

On Nov. 1, 1944, she married Philip McLaurin who preceded her in death on May 13, 1991.

Survivors include: one son, David McLaurin of Mount Vernon; two daughters, Phyllis Kelley of Dubuque, Iowa, and Emma Gamel of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; one brother, Harry Chaney of Canalou; one sister, Lala Duke of East Prairie, Mo.; and seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Four brothers, two sisters and three grandchildren also preceded her in death.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston, Mo., where services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Mike Cartwright, pastor of the Canalou Assembly of God Church, will officiate.

Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sikeston.